Laudrup heaps pressure on Valencia

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup says the pressure is on Valencia to win at the Mestalla tonight, and he believes his side have every chance of getting a result.

Laudrup, who leads Swansea into their first-ever Europa league campaign this season, is hoping that his side can cause an upset with a victory in Spain tonight and feels it is up to the hosts to take the initiative.

He said: "Let's see how they react to where they are now, because in their minds Valencia are way beyond Swansea, even though we play in the Premier League.

"They [the Valencia fans] always want the best and they ask for that. They demand it from the layers and the manager that they are up there competing with Barcelona and Madrid.

"The fans of Valencia have been used to seeing great players and great teams passing by. So let's see how they react. All the pressure is on Valencia."

The 49-year old former Getafe manager was quick to outline the difficulties that Valencia have been having so far this season, with the Spanish outfit languishing in 16th in the La Liga table, and Laudrup is hoping that they can "take advantage", adding: "They have had only one win in four games and on Sunday they play Sevilla, so it's a difficult moment for them.

"We have to do our best and, if we do that, I think we have a good chance."

Valencia have a rich history in Europe - reaching the Champions League final for two successive seasons in 2000 and 2001 - but Laudrup thinks there isn't much between the two teams.

He said: "I'm quite confident because even though Valencia are a huge team, winning leagues, getting to Champions League finals and all that in the last 10 or 11 years, I don't think the gap between the two teams right now is that big."

Swansea will also come up against Kuban Krasnodar of Russia and St Gallen of Switzerland in Group A.

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